RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026: Detailed Guide for CBT 1, CBT 2, and CBAT

RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially announced 11,558 vacancies for the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) roles within Indian Railways. Open to both graduate and undergraduate candidates, this recruitment drive is highly competitive. To excel in the RRB NTPC 2026 exam, it is essential to master the exam pattern, marking scheme, and overall selection criteria. Let’s dive into the complete RRB NTPC exam structure and selection process to streamline your preparation.

RRB NTPC Selection Process 2026

The RRB NTPC recruitment process is comprehensive, consisting of a 1st Stage Computer Based Test (CBT), 2nd Stage CBT, a Typing Skill Test or Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) where applicable, followed by Document Verification and a Medical Examination. Final selection is strictly merit-based, determined by performance across these stages.

The selection process follows these specific examination stages:

1. 1st Stage: Computer-Based Test (CBT-1)
2. 2nd Stage: Computer-Based Test (CBT-2)
3. 3rd Stage: Typing Skill Test/Computer-Based Aptitude Test (as applicable)
4. Document Verification/Medical Examination

RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT 1 Result 2026 - Check Your Status Here

Based on performance in the Stage-1 and Stage-2 CBTs, candidates will be shortlisted for the Skill Test, Aptitude Test, or Document Verification. The specific test required depends on the post applied for, including:

RRB NTPC Selection Process 2026 [Graduate Level]
SNo.	Name of the post	Level in 7th CPC	1st stage CBT	2nd stage CBT	Skill Test Requirement
1	Goods Train Manager	5	Common for all posts	Common For all posts	——————
2	Senior Clerk cum Typist	5			Computer Based Typing Skill Test
3	Junior Account Assistant cum Typist	5			Computer Based Typing Skill Test
4	Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor	6			——————
5	Station Master	6			Computer Based Aptitude Test
6	Traffic Assistant	4			Computer Based Aptitude Test

RRB NTPC Selection Process 2026 [Undergraduate Level]
SNo.	Name of the post	Level in 7th CPC	1st stage CBT	2nd stage CBT	Skill Test Requirement
1	Junior Clerk cum Typist	2	Common for all posts	Common For all posts	Typing Skill Test
2	Accounts Clerk cum Typist	2			Typing Skill Test
3	Trains Clerk	2			——————
4	Commercial cum Ticket Clerk	3			——————

RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026

1. The 1st Stage of CBT is of a screening nature and the standard of questions for the CBT will be generally in conformity with the educational standards prescribed for the posts.
2. The exam duration for PWD candidates is 120 Minutes.
3. There will be negative marking and a 1/3 mark shall be deducted for each wrong answer.
4. The total no. of candidates to be shortlisted shall be 20 times the community-wise vacancies of posts notified against the RRB as per their merit in 1st Stage CBT cum choice of posts.
5. The normalized score of 1st Stage CBT shall be used for the shortlisting of candidates for 2nd Stage CBT as per their merit.

RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 [Stage-1]
Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Mathematics	30	30	90 minutes
General Intelligence and Reasoning	30	30
General Awareness	40	40
Total	100	100

The minimum qualifying percentage marks by category are as follows: UR (40%), EWS (40%), OBC-NCL (30%), SC (30%), and ST (25%). For PwBD candidates, these thresholds may be relaxed by 2% if there is a shortfall in filling the reserved vacancies.

Need Help? How to Recover Your RRB NTPC Registration Number

RRB NTPC CBT 2 Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates shortlisted for the 2nd Stage CBT who claim reservation benefits (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD, or ExSM) must maintain this category status for all subsequent stages of the recruitment process.

1. The exam duration for PWD candidates is 120 Minutes.
2. A negative marking of 1/3 is there.
3. The level of questions will be different for the different levels of posts.
4. The final selection will be done based on the CBT 2 merit list.

RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 [Stage-2]
Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Mathematics	35	35	90 minutes
General Intelligence and Reasoning	35	35
General Awareness	50	50
Total	120	120

RRB NTPC Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) 2026

The Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is mandatory only for candidates who have applied for the posts of Station Master and Traffic Assistant.

1. Qualifying marks: The candidates need to secure a minimum T-Score of 42 marks in each of the test batteries to qualify.
2. This applies to all candidates irrespective of community or category and no relaxation in the minimum T- Score is permissible.
3. Candidates will have to qualify in each of the test batteries of CBAT to be considered for the post of SM.
4. The CBAT shall have question-and-answer options only in English and Hindi.
5. There shall be no negative marking in CBAT.
6. The merit list will be drawn only from amongst the candidates qualifying in the CBAT, with 70% weightage for the marks obtained in the 2nd Stage CBT and 30% weightage for the marks obtained in the CBAT.

RRB NTPC Typing Skill Test (TST)

Applicants for Senior Clerk-cum-Typist and Junior Account Assistant-cum-Typist roles are required to qualify for a Typing Skill Test following the successful completion of CBT-1 and CBT-2.

1. Qualifying in nature.
2. Eight times the number of vacancies will be called for typing test.
3. The candidates should be able to type 30 words per minute (WPM) in English or 25 WPM in Hindi on a Personal Computer only without editing tools and a spell check facility.

RRB NTPC Document Verification (DV)

Candidates will be invited for Document Verification based on their performance in the 2nd Stage CBT (and the CBAT/TST where applicable), strictly adhering to merit lists and initial post preferences.